Condenser



Sept. 11, 1928.

J. SMITH CONDENSER Filed March s, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l o 0 o o o 0 0 o o o o o 0-0 0 m o o 4 o 00 o o o o 3 0 O 0 0 O o o 0 0 o o o o 0 o o o 0 00 Mo 0 ATTORNEY umml "'WII Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,154

J. H. SMITH CONDENSER Filed March 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0 o o 0 0 5 O o o 9 0 0 o 0 o o o 0 o o o I o o o 0 o o o o o o 0 J: 11. Smith WITNESSE INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 19 28.

I u NIT-E D"... STATES r "1,684,154 PATE I JOHN I SMITH, oEfEI IILAnELP IA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIcNoR T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

" CONDENSER.

Application amms, 1923. .Serial No. 622574. f

My invention relates to surface condensers and it has for an ob ect the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall deliver non-condensable fluids to the noncondensable fluid-withdrawal means at a low temperature and specific volume, and which shall, at the same time, deliver to the hot well condensate of a temperature substantially that of the steam.

It has for a further object the prevention of re-evaporation of the condensate within the hot well. advantages of my invention are attained by thestructure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention taken on the line -1 of Fig.2; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken onthe -line IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view thereof taken on line IIL-III of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is'a transverse sectional view'of another embodiment of my inven tion, showing a rearrangement of the tubes within the cond'ensingchamber. V V

Surface condensers of theso-called radialflow type, shown and" claimed 'in United States Patent No. 1,1.2,78 4, issued to Vestinghouse Machine Company on June 8, on application filed by Raymond N. Ehrhart, have the distinct advantage of-providing a hesit-transmitting surface of high efiicien cy by reason of the large entrance area presentedto the steam entering the tubenest, and a short path of travel of the air to the air off-take. This arrangement insures there will beno appreciable variation in pressure betwe'enthe steam inlet and the point of complete conf let 15, condensate outlets 16, and an eccentri densation.

* Eiticiency in the. operation of condensers demands, in addition, that the energy expend ed in the withdrawal of non-condensable fluids shall be reduced to a minimum. This.

resultis most readily accomplished by reducdled by the air-removing means prior t0 the delivery thereto. H1 7 i In my improved construction I effect the above results byproviding a condenser of the radial-flow type having an air-cooling chamber disposed without and contiguous to the condenser shell. The non-condensable gases are conveyed from the condenser to the airoooling chamber by means of a conduit, haw

These and other objects and ing the volume offluids necessary to be han .ing its inlet disposed Well within the nest of v condensing tubes. The air-cooling chamber is provided with a plurality of cooling tubes over which the air is drawn prior to its removal by the'air ejectors. In its passage through'the chamber, a large portion of vapor entrained in the air is condensed and separated'th'erefrom, and the temperature and specific Volume of the air is considerably reduced. r

- Efficiency in the operation of condensers'is still further increased by reducing the amount of re-evaporation of the condensate in the hot well. ti on I provide a hot well for the reception o condensate and with a condensate outlet which communicates freely with-the condensing chamber and through water-seal means with the air-cooling chamber, whereby the passage of uncondensed fluids from the air cooling chamber to the condensate outlet is "prevented. R e-evaporation of the conden'-.

sate in the hot'well is reduced to a minimum by having the condensed fluid from the air In my improved construc- V cooling chamber flow through the water seal and mingle with the condensate from the condensing chamber. Asthe temperature and pressure of the condensate from the con (lensing chamberare slightly higher than those of the condensate from the cooling" chamber, the mixture of the two as stated above, is unproductive of reevaporation. Referring to the drawings for a more 'detailed understanding of an apparatus embodyingmy-invention, I have indicated at 10 a condenser comprising acondensing chamher ll'and an air -cooling chamber 12, and

having a shell 13 and a supplemental shell 14. The shell 13 is provided with a steam in' cally arranged nest of tubes 17 within the shell and engaging the tube sheets. It will be noted that the condensingtubes are spaced from the sides of-the shell and form steam delivery passages 18 and 19, communicating with the steam inlet'15, and surrounding thegroup of condensing tubes 17. The air-cool ing chamber 12 is provided with an inlet 2Q (shown iniFig. 3), air outlets21, condensate. outlets 22 and a plurality of cooling tubes 23. A hot well 24 is, secured to thesupplemental shell 14. Water boxes 25, joined to the tube sheets and shelL'are provided in the usual manner. The condensingchamber 11 commun cates with'the hot well 24L through the open ingsflti in the lower portion cfthe shell 13',

and the lower portion of the and the condensate is conveyed to the hot well 24 by the conduit 27. There is no communication between the air-cooling chamber 12 condensing chamber 11,

Allah and non-condensible oases are con veyed to the air-cooling chamber by means of a conduit 28 having a hollow portion 29. This conduit extends the longitudinal length of the condensing chamber and is secured to the shell 13,. idcoinmunicates throughout its entire uppt portion 30 with the condensing chamber 11 for the admission of non-condensable gases; The entire lower portion of the conduit communicates at .20 with the cooling chamber 12 as shown in l" 3 ex; c ept in the vicinity of the condensate out 1e,ts,;16, across which thehollow portion 29 of the conduit 28 is blanked in order out off tree communication between the central or air oil-take portion of the condensing terminates within the hot well 24 above "the lower edge of the outer downwardly-extending sleeve 36 and defines a water seal. Condensate collected in the hot well is discharged to a suitable condensate pump through an outlet38;

Having described the arrangement of an apparatus embodying my invention, the operation thereol is .as follows: Steam from a turbine or other prime mover is admitted into the condensing chamber through the steam inlet 15 and passes within the shell in such a manncras to substantially surround the cooling tubes within the condensing chamberfi The cylindrical entrance to the tube nest is enabled to accommodate a large volume of steam readily, and the steam pas. radially through the nest of tubes toward the inlet or upper portion 30 ott'he. air conduit. The steam is almost completely con-v densed-in the passage over the tubes and the non-condensable gases, which have asmall condensable :tluid content, pass through the hollow portion 29 of the conduit 28 and flow downwardly and enter the separate air-cooling chamber 12 at its inlet 20. At 20, it 1divi'eirges into .two streams and is ,drawn upwardlyqover the cooling tubes 23- having first pass cooling water circulating there.-

through, and the gases are'dried and cooled;

The air is withdrawn through the outlets 21 by means of a suitable pump. The condensate dripping trom the cooling tubes 23 of the air chamber, falls to the bottom of the shelll l and thence through the openings 22 into the collection compartment 34 of the hotweiljl 2t. after which it minglesflor unites with" the condensate from the condensing chamber, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

Condensate collects in the bottom of the v condensing chamber lladjacent to the outflow of air or steam from the condensing,

chamber to the a r-cooling chamber, because of the relatively lower pressure prevailing within the latter chamber except after it passes to the interior part of the condensing chamber in its region of lowest pressure and 7 temperature. It turther prevents the .assage 02E vapors generated in the hot l to the air-cooling chamber. The water inthe collection compartment glexposed to the pressure of the air-cooling chamber-1% will assume a slightly greater as. .th of liquid than 2 that of he water .eX osed to the pressure of 7 the condensing chamier 11, The condensate within the collection compartment .34- passes into the discharge compartment 3.3 wherein it unites with the Condensate from the con (lensing chamber 11'. The discharge compartment83, having a relatively higher press sure and-temperattire-therein due to its free coinnuinication with the condensing chamber, 11,, the entering the relat vely .CQ der condensate thereinto is not conducive to evaporation. All condensate is withdr wn from the discharge compartment 38 through the port 38 by anylsuitable p;11mp. V

Fig. 4.- discloses a mod'tied form of my in v'ention-in which theupper portion of *1 tube nest within the condensing chamber is spaced from the walls of the shell, defining therewith steam passages, while the lower portion is spaced-in close proximity to the, shell, the arrangement of the tubes within said shell being such ZlSi define it partial radial flow and a partial downflow or what ll'b-e t m d a multic-fiow condenser- The advantage of this type of condenser'is ts i rease in capa ity, due t the additional cooling surface thereln as compared with a condenser of a type shown inFi'g. 1 of equal P ysi al P oportions; This'increase in ca- 13a.city, l1o\vever, is at the expense ofaslight decrease in efficiency, which decreased elliciency is nevertheless superior to that o'btained in condensers of the straight-downfiow deslgn. e l

Referring tot'he drawings for amore depassages 'communicate with the steam inlet 7 46. In the lower portion of the condensmg chamber 41-, the tubes are spaced in close proximity to the shell 43, this portion of the chamber representing substantially a down- How condenser. Air and non-condensable gases are conveyed from the condensing chamber 41 to the air-cooling chamber 42 by means of a conduit having sides '51 and a hollow portion 52. This conduit extends the longitudinal length. of and is'secu'redto the shell 43. It communicates throughout its entireupper length 53 "and through a plu rality of circular openings 55, withthe condensing chamber 41 for the admission of noncondensable gases. '--These gases are dis-f charged throughout its entire lower length 54 to the air-cooling chamber-42, except in the vicinity of the condensateoutlets 47, across which the hollow portion 52 of the conduit 51 is blanked'in orderto cut off free communijcation between the central or airoif-take portion of the condensing'chamber 41 and the hot well 50. The remaining structure of this embodiment of my invention is similar to that described in reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The operation of the above arrangement of my apparatus is as follows Steam. from a turbine or other prime mover :is admitted into thecondensingchamber through the steam inlet 46 in such manneras to substantially surround the upper portion of the condensing tube nest 45. A portion of the steam passes radially through the nest of tubes toward the opening 53 'ofzthefair off-take conduiti5l,

while the remaining portion flows downward and through the tube nest toward thecir: cular openings in the lower portion of the air off-take conduit. The steam is almost completely condensed in the passage overthe tubes and the non-condensable gases, which have a small condensable fluid, content, pass through the hollow portion of the conduit 7 and flow downwardly and enter the separate air-cooling chamber at its inlet 54. The condensate dripping from the cooling tubes within the condensing chamber collects in the lower portion thereof adjacent to the outer surfaces 51 of the conduit and passes through the openings 47 into thehot well 50. The remaining features ofthe complete cycle of operation of this embodiment of my invention are similar to that heretofore described. with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

I -Whi-le have shown my invention in but two forms, itwill be obvious to those skilled in theart that it is not so -limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be-placed there- .well having a condensate outlet, an air coolmg chamberisolated fromthe condensing chamber and communicating only with the region of low pressure and temperature in the condenser, .and water seal means between the air cooling chamber and the condensate outlet.

2. In a condenser, the combination with a shell having afluid inlet port, ofanest of condensing tubes therein, an air-cooling and upon as are imposed by the prior art or as drying chamber without the shell-and contiguous thereto, a nest of tubes therein, a hollow wall forthe conveyance of non-condensable fluid extendingthe length of the. shell and communicatingwith an inner. portion'of the condensing tube nest and "the air-cooling chamber, a'hot well for condensate associated with the lowerportion'of the shell, saidhot well communicating with a lower portion of the air-cooling chamber, and air outlet means provided in the cooling chamber remotefrom its communication-with the hollow wall, a

condensate outlet, and water seal means between the condensate outletand the air outfluid inlet and a nest of condensing tubes Within the shell, ofjan air-cooling and drying chamberoutside thefshelha nest of cooling tubes within said cooling and drying cham ber, means for passing uncondensable fluid from the condensingtubes to the cooling tubes, a hotwell for receivingcon densate from the shell, said hotwell having a condensate removal-port, and means providing a liquid seal between-said condensate removal port and the air cooling and drying chamber. I

4. The comb'nation, with a radial fiow condenser comprising a shell having a motive fluid inlet, a nest of tubes within-the shell, and an air and non-condensable gas ofi'take extending within the nest of tubes, of a tubular coolerv outside of the radial flow condenser and in communication with the air and noncondensable gas ofi'take of the radial flow condenser, a hotwell arranged to receive condensate from the radial fiow condenser and from the cooler, said hotwell having a confluid inlet, a nest of tubes With-in the'shell,

and an air olitake extending Within the nest of tub-es, of a supplemental shell contiguous to said fnst inentioned shell andarranged to define therewith a; cooling chamber for air and non-condensable gases, a bank of tubes Within the cooling cliamber,-said first-mentioned shell having ports for sailor-ding communica on between the cooling chamber and the air ofitake, a hot vell for receiving condensate from the-cooling chamber and from the condenser and arranged to be secured to said supplementalshell, an upstanding cylindrical Wall Within aid l otwell arranged to define the condensate removal port therefiOl',-21H(ll cylindrical wall member depending from said firstrmen tioned shell through the cooling chamber and into the hotWell, the

lower portien of said r'lepending Wall encomdensing compartment, of a cooling icompart inent outside the shell and contiguous thereto, a connection for passing air and non-condensable gases from the condensing comparte ment to the cooling compartment, and means including a liquid seal for passing condensate from the cooling compartmenti 7 8. The combination, with a surface condense-r comprising a shell enclosing av condensing compartment, of a cooling compartment outside theshell and contiguous thereto, a connection for passing air and non-condensable gases from the condensing compartbypassing of'gaseous media from oneco npertinent to tlie ot-her through the hotwell. r

v 9; The combination with a surface 1601i- ,denscr comprising a shell enclos ng awas densing compartment, of a. coolingcO npar-tT merit outside the slielfl,1 neans providinga passageway for gaseous media from the con; (lensing compartment to the cooling compartment, ,means-fprovidinga common out-let for condensate from condensing compartment and from the cooling 7 compartment,

means providing a liquid sea-l between t cooling compartment and said common oat;-

l O. Th ecombination with asurtlace-cogae denser 0OII1"IlSl11I a shell enclosir a-eons glt (lensing compartment and having an incl 'ned lower portion, of a cooling compartment anti side the shell and having an 1 lIlQllIleCl lower portion and an upper portion substantially complementary to the inclined lower po tiono'f the condensing compartment, moans providing a common outlet forcondensate from the lower portion of each of saidcoms partments, means providing a liquid seal be tween the cooling compartment and the, C0111 men outlet, and ineansprov-id'ing a passageway between said compartmen s anda ove the seal for conducting gaseous media from the condensing coinpartmentto the cooling compartment.

11.:Tl18 combination with a surface condenser ;comprising a shellenolos'ing a COD-1 (lensing chamber, of a cooling-chamber gouts1deofthe she'll, means providing a passage-J Way between said chambers .for gaseous media, means providing a condensate ofi-wtalze from the condensing chamber-and rn'eans'be-f lovv said passageway providing a liquid seal for discharging condensate from the cooling chamber to said oil-take. J u

I Intfitimonytv'hereof, I have hereunto scribed my name-this 28th day of February,

JOHN .siviirir. g 

